Overview & Reviews

Fully redesigned last model year, the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta features only minor changes. The SEL and TDI trim levels now offer a Fender audio system, while last year's Sport package for the SEL has been discontinued.

• Fuel-efficient diesel model.
• Well-equipped
• Spacious interior and trunk
• Smart electronics interface

• Lackluster interior materials
• Sluggish throttle with automatic
• Numb steering
• Wheezy base engine.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 69.00

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  A Nice Used Car at a good price... - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By freddok2 - May 15 - 5:57 am

  I suddenly found myself in the position of needing a another car after my previously-reliable 2006 Subaru Impreza suddenly overheated on me. The Dealer where I had the Subaru taken for service (and from where I had bought it new in 2006) had put me in a white 2013 VW Passat as a loaner for a while, so when it came time to deal and to decide whether to take back my old car or buy a new or certified Pre-Owned car from the dealer, I was pleased when I took on a test drive a blue Certified pre-Owned 2012 Jetta with low mileage. The only thing I didnt like about it was the mostly-plastic dash, but that was a minor tradeoff in return. I bought it and have been happy with it ever since.

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  Excellent Value! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joepalace - May 30 - 1:47 am

  Just brought on 10/14/2012. Excellent value! used 0% $0 down financing and 3 yrs of maintenance included. I was afraid leatherette seats where going to look cheap, but they actually look great and are very comfortable. In fact they are more comfortable than my Infiniti I-30 leather seats I just traded in. The space in the back seat is great as a full size adult fits comfortably. The premium entertainment is wonderful and the ipod/iphone integration is excellent. Bluetooth works perfectly. Acceleration is up to par with what you expect on this type of vehicle. Its not a racing car, so acceleration is what should be considered normal. So far a great choice!

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  Excellent Car - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By robertj9 - January 14 - 4:27 am

  I had been looking for a car since December 2011. I did a lot comparison between Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Hyundai. But overall the Jetta won, it is the best quality vs. price car that I found. I was looking a good price for a sedan with leather interiors, sunroof, responsive engine, and space. The reviews about the quality of the interior it may be for the one that does not have the vinyl interior. Because I really like the interior of this car and the space is more than enough. The trunk is huge. The engine is responsive. The MPG is not impressive though.

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  Catch a Star... - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By MTHOM - January 7 - 8:27 pm

  Diesels produce great torque, seemingly indifferent to payload, notably maintaining cruising speeds on Californias I-5 Grapevine mountain section to within a micron of set point. Consistently maintains high 40s mpg in urban settings, lower 50s at posted legal speeds, including Utah 80mph section of I-80. Smooth riding with the typical firm VW suspension. A very roomy and comfortable cabin, front and back.

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  First-time Volkswagen owner - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Liz - August 20 - 7:16 pm

  I bought this car certified pre-owned as a leased car someone had turned in. So far, Im very satisfied with it. One issue would be with the engine -- my previous car was a Toyota Corolla and its 2.0L engine seemed to have much more zip than this Jetta, especially going up hills. This Jetta is a manual shift and it is very smooth going from one gear to another and now that I have a new set of tires on it, my gas mileage is much better, in the 33-36 mpg range, rather than 29-31 mpg with my old tires. The interior is appointed nicely -- the controls are easy to read and accessible while driving. There are lots of options for seat adjustment, in both the nearness to the steering wheel but also seat height. Since Im an audiophile, the sound system is important to me and it doesnt disappoint. Those controls are also easy to navigate and program. Another thing Id suggest is for Volkswagen to include a couple USB ports on the lower trim models. Right now, I have an external port plugged into my cigarette lighter (not a problem since Im a non-smoker), but even it seems to integrate well with the sound system. This car is a daily driver for me, but occasionally, I have passengers and they have all commented on the roominess not only in the passenger seat, but in the rear seats. The last suggestion Id have is that there should be a daytime/nighttime function on the drivers side and passenger side mirrors to alleviate glare on all the trim models. Otherwise, as I said, Im relatively happy with this car and I intend to keep it as long as possible.

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  Fun and Fuel Efficient - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdilover3 - December 26 - 12:55 am

  I have 13,000 miles on my 2012 Jetta. This is my third Jetta and my second TDI. I love this car. It is amazing for the money. I drive 55 miles everyday in mixed driving in this car, and I have fun the entire time. It only costs me $90 a month in fuel to drive this amazing car. It has power for days, the torque is amazing. It handles great and has plenty of space. I have two kids in car seats, no space issues. I love this car and I plan to keep it forever.

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  Jetta Diesel is all for Fun - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdi_all_fun - September 29 - 2:25 am

  After driving Toyota Camry for 8 years i decided to move on and try something that is fun to drive and at the same time has great mpg. I decided to buy Jetta TDI, i start loving it the moment i test drove it and bought it right away. I bought this in June 2011 and wanted to wait for a while before writing this review so far i have put over 15000 miles and getting 37-38 in 50% city and 50% highway. I drove it on long drive couple of time and noted 46 mpg which is awesome for car with a soul. So far i am happier with my decision to move to diesel. I dont think i am ever moving back to gas ever again.

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  My first VW and its awesome! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mnsparks13 - May 2 - 6:41 pm

  I just bought my 12 Jetta TDI recently, so its a bit too soon to comment on reliability although, I expect it to be reliable. I bought my car as a certified used car with only 26,000 miles on it. The first second I saw it, I fell in love with it. It is red and has a nice 2 tone interior. The seats are the leathertte seats. The dash design is very nice, not offensive or overly styled, just right. I have the navigation system and the Fender sound system, which I highly recommend. The Fender sound system is amazing! The car is pretty much loaded. I highly recommend this car. Dont believe the bad things some of the car magazines say about this car, this car is solid and awesome!

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  Love My Jetta TDI D - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By debrasue - December 20 - 6:19 am

  My husband and I bought this car for the gas mileage and the Jetta has delivered. I drive 100 miles a day (highway) for work plus running errands and only fill up once a week ($50 a tank). I get about 47 mpg or 550-560 miles per tank. The car is comfortable and responsive when driving. Being on the road so much I like the Blue tooth hands free system that syncs with my phone.

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  Perfect first car to own! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Shannon Nesterowicz - July 17 - 2:47 pm

  This Jetta is my first car, and I honestly could not be happier. I drive between Syracuse and Albany about twice a month, as well as around Albany day to day. This car is reliable and worth the ~$8,000 I spent. Ive purchased a rust undercoating, as well as top-of-the-line snow tires, to handle Syracuse winters, so those purchases have definitely positively impacted the reliability and durability of the car. The only issue Ive noticed is that the acceleration is slow for the first 20 minutes or so within starting the vehicle, but it is by no means a deal breaker. To summarize, this car is phenomenal and I would easily consider buying another when the time comes to purchase a new car.